Page 62 of Bind Me

“They live in Finland, another country. We need to fly there,” I say.

“All right, then let’s arrange this. We’ll go together.”

Her gaze flashes something my way.

“All depends on if I can get time off work, but I’ll ask my boss. And the only reason I’m contemplating this is because I’ve been dying to catch up with my friend, Billie. Haven’t seen her since she left South Africa and moved in with them. Plus, I’m dying to meet her twins.”

I nod, shifting uncomfortably. “You need a bigger car.”

“This is a work vehicle, so I don’t exactly get a choice.”

“Fine, but we won’t drive in this one anymore. It’s too small for me.”

She gives me a long stare. “It looks cute seeing you all cramped up in here.”

I lower my window for air. “Cute isn’t what I’m going for. How am I supposed to get out fast if I need to fight someone?”

She chuckles. “Noted.”

As we drive, I can’t help but notice how natural it feels to be around her, even in these mundane moments.

“So, Billie,” I say, trying to distract myself from the tight confines. “Tell me about her.”

“Billie’s amazing,” she squeals. “She’s fierce, independent, and has this way of making you feel like you can conquer the world. I’ve known her for years, and we lived together in South Africa. She’s been like a sister to me, looking out for me.”

“Sounds like someone I’d like to meet,” I admit, my thoughts returning to Asher and if he’s found his fated mate yet. Or is he still having fun destroying mercenaries? I’d consider him a close friend… I don’t have many I trust back in Tartarus, so to hear Sasha talk so fondly of a friend has me confirming that with Sasha by my side, she will be my closest friend.

“Oh, she’ll love you,” she says with a grin. “She has a thing for big, brooding guys.”

“If she’s your friend, then she’s mine, too.”

As we drive farther from the library, I reach down and pull out a scrunched-up paper, which refused to flatten when I unfolded it from my back pocket, smoothing it out on my knee.

“Let’s read this properly now…”

Sasha gasps, half swerving across the road in the process. “Did you rip that out of the archive book in the library?”

“Yep. We needed it; they didn’t.”

“We are gonna get thrown out now for sure and fined.” She shakes her head, clearly struggling to stay straight on the road.

“You’re cute when you’re paranoid,” I tease, enjoying the slight flush that colors her cheeks. I lean back in my seat, hearing a sudden crunching sound as my seat slips back a bit.

She cuts me a sharp stare and exhales heavily. I can’t help it if I’m too big for this vehicle.

“You know, back in Tartarus, I used to spend my spare time solving murders. A hobby I enjoyed and was damn good at.”

She laughs. “Your hobby was doing detective work? Why?”

I shrug nonchalantly. “Keep myself busy.”

“Okay, so what else does the article say? Anything useful?”

Lifting the page, I scan it quickly. “Only thing that’s of importance is the last line that says this is the third attack in as many weeks.”

“So, it was happening in North Norway, too. The sailors were right. How good would it be if we were still in the library to check other dates,” she states sarcastically.

Lowering the article, I glance over at Sasha. She’s concentrating on the road, her hands clutching the steering wheel a bit too hard.

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